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July 13, 2018

Ballet Engagement Session inside the Palladium in Carmel, Indiana

We created so many beautiful images for this session that I had to write a second post featuring more of the dramatic indoor spaces at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts. From bright sunshine to soft shadows; from dancing in the spotlight to sitting alone in the empty theatre, this session really runs the gamut of possibilities.

For starters, we wanted to get a few photos of Megan and Paul actually performing on stage together, like they do multiple times a week during their ballet season. We had help from the amazing lighting technician at the Palladium, who ran all the theater lighting right from an iPad and also put down some gaffer’s tape to make the stage safer for Megan to dance on pointe.

I loved seeing our couple recreating some of their performance poses, but I’m even more drawn to the images of them sitting on the stage and in the empty seats. There’s something evocative about those moments–it reminds me how much time and effort performers put into their craft that goes unseen–much like the unglamorous work we put into relationships to keep them fresh and growing.

We also wanted to shoot some dramatic ballet poses in the East Lobby, an intimate yet elegant space with marble floors and two-story columns rising to a symmetrical circular dome. The second floor balcony allowed me to get stunning images of Paul lifting Megan!

We wrapped up in the Founder’s Room, where the afternoon sun drenches the interior in golden light. I loved creating dramatic, layered images by shooting through the windows from the balcony across the lobby.

In case you didn’t know, all of these spaces and more are actually available for rent (even the 500-seat theater, which can be used to host private performances during the year or transformed with a floating floor for weddings during the month of August.) The East Lobby might be my favorite–I would love to photograph a small, elegant wedding there!

Thanks again to the fabulous group of vendors who made this shoot happen!